"I will not rest until our goal is achieved"
MY STORY
I begynnelsen av vår sak følte jeg meg hjelpesløs og stadig overkjørt av barnevernsystemet i alle ledd.
I am a man of foreign origin with a different language, culture and religion, as well as an understanding of what the CPS accepted as “normal”. Even after 33 years of living in Norway, I stand out when it comes to the standard of children’s welfare. Instead of accepting that we are different and interpreting/meeting me based on this, the case managers misunderstood and started focusing on me as a person to mold me into what is acceptable from their point of view.
I felt something was wrong and did not respect their perception of reality. Gradually, I could see that there were significant shortcomings in their understanding of diversity, and that this was the reason why the collaboration between the child welfare service and me did not work well.
I felt misunderstood and violated, but instead of letting these feelings affect me negatively, I turned them into something constructive. I spent a lot of time and thought analyzing my situation, statements from experts and caseworkers. I realized that I couldn’t change their understanding of my reality, but I had to look at myself and change the way my opinions were expressed, so that they too could get the right understanding of me. This was absolutely necessary for our case to have a very successful outcome shortly after this.
I am now left with important experience and knowledge that will help others in similar situations. All the experience I have gathered would be wasted if it is not used to help my fellow human beings.
I don’t want others to experience what we did. Everything my child and I went through in this process was tough and painful, but at the same time, my child has been the inspiration behind the vision I now have.
I have taken on the responsibility of bringing together talented people with the necessary expertise to create change in a system that many agree is not working in the best interests of parents, children and society.
My goal is to build an association that can help unite the state and parents/children for the good of the system. The association’s goal is not to fight child welfare services, but rather to improve communication, respect for diversity, and more in collaboration with various agencies.
I’m determined to give back to Norwegian society with all the experience I’ve gathered. I have valuable things to contribute, and I am convinced that this will benefit parents, children and public agencies in the long term.
key figures from child welfare in 2021
53 468
Concern messages
8 883
Number of children placed in foster homes
26%
Of the children with child protection measures have an immigrant background
71%
Care transfers were carried out by force
Overall, our goal is to be Norway's foremost association for assisting parents and children and to be the association that is equipped to unite the interests of the state and parents/children.
At the beginning of our case, I felt helpless and constantly overrun by the child welfare system at all levels.
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Our Articles of Association form the foundation of our association and guide us in achieving our goal of safeguarding the best interests of parents and children. Together we can make a difference in child welfare.
